Rivermen Game Notes: Evansville Thunderbolts at Peoria Rivermen
Published on March 25, 2018 under SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
COMING UP SHORT
The Rivermen enter play tonight after falling short last night, suffering a 5-4 overtime loss to the Macon Mayhem at Carver Arena to drop Peoria to 34-12-5 on the season. With the overtime point, the Rivermen improve to 73 points on the season, seven points ahead of Pensacola with two weekends remaining in the regular season. With their 73 points, the Rivermen are mathematically assured of a Top-3 finish in the SPHL standings this season, and their magic number to clinch first place stands at five points.
THE SERIES SO FAR
Tonight's tilt marks the last of 13 games this season between the Rivermen and Thunderbolts, and the sixth of six at Carver Arena. Peoria took a 5-4 shootout win in Evansville to open the regular season October 21 before the Thunderbolts won 4-2 in Evansville October 24. Peoria captured a 4- 1 win at the Ford Center November 17 before a 4-3 overtime win December 29 in Peoria and a 5- 2 win in Evansville on New Year's Eve. The Rivermen took a 5-4 shootout win in Peoria on January 12 before the Thunderbolts captured a 3- 2 rematch at the Ford Center the following night.
After tonight's contest, the Rivermen and Thunderbolts met for the final time in Evansville February 24, with Peoria taking a 3-2 regulation victory on Will Smith's tiebreaking goal with 38 seconds left in regulation. The Rivermen dropped a 2-1 regulation decision March 2 in Peoria.
LIGHTNING AND THE THUNDER
The Thunderbolts enter play tonight hot on the heels of a pair of wins over Pensacola at the Ford Center, giving Evansville the city's first playoff berth since the 2011-12 CHL Evansville Icemen were swept out of the first round by the Missouri Mavericks. The Thunderbolts enter play today 25-18-8 on the season, good for 58 points, sixth place in the SPHL standings, four points behind fifth-place Knoxville with five games remaining in the Thunderbolts' regular season slate.
GURTS' GOALS
Last night's Rivermen game featured a pair of goals for Peoria winger Mike Gurtler, giving the Rochester, NY native his third multi-goal game of the season and lifting him to the single-season 20- goal plateau for the first time in his pro career. For his pro career, Gurtler has notched 79 goals and 95 assists in 263 regular-season games, adding six goals and 10 assists in 22 career postseason contests.
THE DISHIN' MAGICIAN STRIKES AGAIN
Last night's Rivermen game also included a goal and a pair of assists for Rivermen center Joseph Widmar, giving the first-year pro 11 goals and 27 assists and a +16 rating in 32 games for the Rivermen this year.
JUMP JIVE AN' JORDAN
Last night's game also included a pair of assists for Rivermen center/defenseman Jordan Carvalho, giving the Brampton, ON native back-to-back multi-point outings after he notched a pair of goals in Friday's contest. Since joining the Rivermen, the first-year pro out of Morrisville State University has posted six goals and 14 assists in 41 games played.
THE MAGIC MEN
The Rivermen come into play tonight after assuring themselves of a Top-3 finish in the SPHL standings with an overtime point last evening.
Peoria's magic number to lock themselves ahead of Macon stands at one point, while Peoria's magic number to clinch first place over Pensacola is five points entering today's contest.
WHAT'S ON DECK
After tonight's game, the Rivermen will travel to Roanoke, VA next weekend to take on the Rail Yard Dawgs Friday and Saturday at the Berglund Center. Peoria and Roanoke will then meet again at Carver Arena April 6 & 7 to wrap up the regular season prior to April 8's playoff selection show.
SPHL Stories from March 25, 2018
- Rivermen Skate Past Thunderbolts Sunday Afternoon - Peoria Rivermen
- De Melo Makes 32 Saves in Loss to Rivermen - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Rivermen Game Notes: Evansville Thunderbolts at Peoria Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
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